Inking device for a rotary printing member

ABSTRACT

An inking device for a rotary print head which includes an inking roller for applying ink to the printing surface of a rotating head. A predetermined amount of ink is taken from the ink fount by means of a rotating dipper finger and is applied to the surface of a filmer roller. From the filmer roller the ink is transferred to the print head inking roller in measured amounts under the control of a metering roller. The metering roller is selectively adjustable to control the pressure contact of the surface thereof with that of the filmer roller and the inking roller, thereby enabling a lesser or greater amount of ink to be transferred from the filmer roller to the print head inking roller.

United States Patent "[191 Thorson et al.

[ INKING DEVICE FOR A ROTARY PRINTING MEMBER [75 Inventors: Sheldon E. Thorson, Pleasanton; v

' Cecil F. Clemons; Vito Viola, both I of San Leandro, all of Calif.

[73] Assignee: The Singer Company, New York,

, 'N.Y. v

[22] Filed: Apr. 5, 1971 21 Appl. No.: 131,240

[52] US. Cl. 101/350, 101/330 [51] Int. Cl. B4lf 31/06, B4lf 31/14 [58] Field of Search 101/349-352, 329-331, 206-209, 148; 192/415."

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 967,906 8/1910 Halliwell 101/350 2,622,521 12/1952 Larsen 101/D1G. 6

3,120,803 2/1964 Greenwood 101/351 222,320 12/1879 Smith 101/350 X- 477,030 6/1872 Waters 192/41.5 1,273,793 7/1918 Pitney 101/350 1,677,679 7/1928 Molins 101/350 2,154,544 Taylor 101/350 Sept. 25, 1973 2,227,636 1/1941 Eckland et al 101/350 2,330,359 9/1943 Hill 101/350 2,728,292 12/1955 Harless et a1. 101/363 2,748,698 6/1956 Hanson et a1 l0l/350 3,107,608 10/1963 Ward 3,179,043 4/1965 Mellison 101/349 UX Primary Examiner-J. Reed Fisher Attorney-Charles R, Lepchinsky, Patrick J. Schlesinger, Warren P. Kujawa and Jay M. Cantor [5 7] ABSTRACT An inking device for a rotary print head which includes an inking roller for applying ink to the printing surface of a rotating head. A predetermined amount of ink is taken from the ink fount by means of a rotating dipper 1 finger and is applied to the surface of a filmer roller. From the filmer roller the ink is transferred to the print head inking roller in measured amounts under the control of a metering roller. The metering roller is selectively adjustable to control the pressure contact of the surface thereof with that of the filmer roller and the inking roller, thereby enabling a lesser or greater amount of ink to be transferred from the filmer roller to the print head inking roller.

9 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures gap INKING DEVICE FOR A ROTARY PRINTING MEMBER- BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to inking devices of the ink fount type employing rollers for the transfer of ink from the fount onto the printing surface of a rotating print head.

2. Description of Prior Art In printing mechanisms such as postage metering machines two types of inking devices may be employed for the application of ink onto the'postage printing die surface for the taking of a postage impression. It is customary for a postage metering machine to comprise a base portion which removably supports the postage meter and provides a housing for the drive mechanism and the conveyor for moving matter to be postmarked into printing relationship with the meter. Either type of inking device is also supported on the base in operative relationship to the rotary print head of the meter.

One type of inking device that is in common use today is an inking roller having a cylindrical chamber as a core serving as a reservoir for the ink, such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,846,945, issued to F. W. Uthenwoldt et a]. With this type of inking device, the amount of ink reaching the surface of the inking roller is difficult to control. Furthermore, a postage meter is subjected to intermittent operation with periods of nonuse. During such nonuse, the ink tends to accumulate on the rollers lower surface and, depending upon the period of nonuse, would tend to dry or harden in that area. When a postage meter is again put into service, following a period of nonuse, there will be an oversupply of ink in that area of the roller, or no inking at all.

The other type of inking device utilizes an ink fount similar to that described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,107,854, of I.-I-l. Lundquist. Rotatable in the ink in the fount is one roller of a system of rollers for transferring the ink to the printing die surface of the print head. With the use of this system of inking, there is no selective control of the amount of ink to be supplied to the roller which is in rolling contact with the printing die plate on the print head. In fact, since postage metering machines are subjected to periodic operation, the die plate will fail to pick up ink during at least the first complete revolution of the print head.

Inks which are used in either type of inking system may vary sufficiently in viscosity so that the less viscous the ink, the greater the probability of oversupply to the printing die plate. Thus, with no means for controlling an oversupply of ink, the resulting imprinted impression will likely be illegible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the teachings of thepresent in vention, the disadvantages of prior art inking systems are overcome. The construction comprises a pair of power-driven rollers. One of these rollers is an ink supply roller, driven at a speed synchronous with the indicium print head for intermittent contact therewith. The other roller is a filmer roller to which ink is supplied from an ink fount. A metering roller is selectively adjustable for variable pressure contact with each of the pair of rollers to control the supply of ink transferred from the filmer roller to the ink supply roller. During the rotation of the ink supply roller, means is driven at a predetermined speed of rotation relative to the filmer roller to carry a measurable quantity of ink from the ink fount to the filmer roller.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a rotary printing device with an improved inking system for selectively controlling the transfer of ink from a fount to the ink supply roller.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary frontal elevation, partially in section, illustrating an inking device according to the invention as applied to a postage metering machine;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the inking device with the ink supply container removed;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary frontal elevational view of the inking device, with the ink supply container and onehalf of the cover for the device removed;

' FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view of the inking device, the view being taken on the plane indicated by the line 4-4 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view of the inking device, the view being taken on the plane indicated by the line 55 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a detail showing of the dipper shaft actuator;

FIG. 7 is a detail showing of the metering roller and the support therefor; and

FIGS. 8 and 9 are views of a modification of the dipper shaft showing a series of dipper fingers formed of wire.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The invention is preferably shown as being embodied in a postage metering machine of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,556,001 issued to Mel E. Kinney et al. The machine comprises a base portion 10 which removably supports a postage meter 12, including a rotary print head 14 and a housing 15 therefor. Carried by the print head 14 is a postage indicium die plate 16, which cooperates with an impression roller 17 in the base portion 10 to move mail matter, such as envelopes, along the top surface 18 of the base 10. During such movement, the indicium die plate 16 causes a postage impression to be made on an envelope with each revolution of the print head 14.

An inking mechanism, generally indicated at 20 in FIG. 1, is supported on laterally projecting ears 21 and 22 of a vertical wall portion 23 of base 10 by means of machine screws 24 and 25, respectively. Screws 24 and 25 are threaded'into the bottom of a reservoir base 26 of the inking mechanism 20, securing the mechanism in a position such that upon placement of the meter 12 on the base 10, the rightmost end of the inking mechanism (FIG. 1) projects into an opening 27 in the housing 15 surrounding the print head 14. By this arrangement, an ink supply roller 28 of the inking mechanism 20 is in position for inking contact with the indicium die plate 16 upon each revolution of the print head 14.

Referring to FIG. 1, the ink supply for the inking mechanism 20 is provided in a container 32, preferably of plastic, and having generally a lengthwise rectangular configuration and substantially a rectangular transverse cross section replaceably supported upon a bed or way 33 integrally formed on the reservoir base elecontainer 32 is provided with a sealed opening includ- I ing a ball check of a conventional type (not shown). As the container is positioned between the spring clips 34,

the ball of the check valve is engaged by the liquid retially U-shaped spring clips 34. Once in place between the spring clips 34, the lower edge of the outlet in the bottom of the container 32 serves to maintain the'constant liquid level of the ink 37, as seen in FIGS. 4 and 5.

Since the postage metering machine is often idle for relatively long periods of time and is required to print each time with the first cyclic rotation of the print head 14, the ink used is of the type which is relatively fluid. For applying the ink to the indicium die plate 16, the ink supply roller 28 of absorbent material such as felt, comes into play, and, when properly moistened with the ink, presents a fully inked surface, ready for use at all times, regardless of whether or not the machine has been in use recently.

In addition to the base element 26, forming a reservoir for the ink 37, the inking mechanism 20 (FIGS. 1 and 2) includes a pair of covers 38 and 39 having an identical mating configuration. Referring to FIG. 2, half cover 38 would be considered the inside cover having a laterally projecting ear 40 for effecting the securing of the cover 38 to the base element 26 by means of machine screw 41. Similarly, the other half cover 39 considered to be the outside cover in FIG. 2, is provided with a laterally projecting ear 42 for enabling the securing of the cover 39 to the base element 26 by means of machine screw 43. In addition to the securing of the covers 38 and 39 onto the base element 26, they are also secured to each other as a unit by means of similar screws 44, thereby enclosing the means for transferring ink 37 from the reservoir onto the ink supply roller 28. I

When a postage metering operation is desired, an electric motor (not shown) is energized to selectively effect cyclic rotations of the print head 14 in a wellknown manner and to effect continuous rotation of the ink supply roller 28 of the inking mechanism 20. In other words, the drive mechanism operates continuously to drive the impression roller 17 and the inking mechanism 20 while the postage meter operates on demand. As can be seen in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, a portion of the peripheral surface of the inksupply roller 28 projects through a suitable opening 48 in the covers 38 and 39 sufficiently for inking contact with the printing surface of the indicium die plate 16 of print head 14. The peripheral or surface speed of the roller 28 is in synchronism with the surface speed of the indicium die plate 16 on the print head 14. Thus, there is no abrasive action on either the roller 28 or the die plate 16 as surface contact of the two elements is effected.

In order to impart continuous rotation to the ink sup. ply roller 28, a motor driven shaft 49 (FIGS. 1 and 2) is journalled in the framework of the machine, including the vertical wall portion 23 of the base 10. The shaft 49 carries a grooved pulley 50 which is drivingly connected by means of an O-ring belt 51 to a grooved pulley 52 (FIGS. 2 and 5). Grooved pulley 52 is secured on the outer end of a stub shaft 53 journalled in a bearing boss 54 integrally formed on and projecting outwardly from, the wall of inside cover 38. Pulley 52 is provided with a counterbore 55 which encompasses a major portion of the bearing boss 54 to enable the rotation of the pulley in a plane adjacent the wall of the 1 cover 38. On its inner end, the shaft 53 carries a 27- tooth gear 56 (FIGS. 3, 4 and 5) secured thereon adjacent the inner surface of the wall of inside cover 38. Driving gear 56 is enmeshed with an l8-tooth gear 60, secured on one end of a shaft 61which, at its other end, carries a gear 62, secured thereon. Shaft 61 is journalled at-its respective ends in the vertical wall of the covers 38 and 39. To complete the drive to the ink supply roll 28, gear 62 is enmeshed with a gear 63, which, together with ink supply roller 28, are secured on a shaft 64 journalled at its respective ends in the walls of the covers 38 and 39. As noted above, during each operation of a postage meter 12, that is, during each cycle of rotation of the print head 14, the surface speed of the indicium die plate 16 is equivalent to the surface speed of the continuously rotating ink supply roller 28.

With each operation of the postage meter 12, the print head 14 makes one revolution, however, there may be long periods of nonuse. Irrespective of the duration of the period of nonuse, when it becomes desirable to again put the postage metering machine into operation, fresh ink is immediately supplied to the ink supply roller 28, upon energization of the main driving motor and continuous operation of inking mechanism 20.

During the continuous operation of the inking mechanism 20, ink is picked up in the reservoir, formed by the base element 26, and transferred in controllable amounts to the ink supply roller 28. For this purpose, a filmer roller 65 (FIGS. 4, 5 and 6) is carried by a shaft 66 supported at its respective ends in the wall of each of the covers 38 and 39. Adjacent the rightmost end of the shaft 66 (FIG. 5), a pinion 67 is secured adjacent the inner surface of the wall of the outside cover 39.

Gear 67 is enmeshed with gear 62 to control the rotation of roller 65 which is preferably formed of rubber. The gear ratios of the gear train within the covers 38 and 39 are such that for each complete revolution of the ink supply roller 28 filmer roller 65 makes approximately 2% revolutions.

Means are provided for removing a predetermined quantity of ink from the ink reservoir and transferring the ink to the surface of the filmer roller 65. For this purpose, a shaft 70 (FIGS. 4, 5 and 6) extends transversely of the reservoir formed by the base element 26 and is axially parallel to the filmer roller shaft 66. At its respective ends, shaft 66 is journalled in the lower portion of a pair of flanges 71 and 72 integrally formed on the inner surface of the walls of the respective covers 38 and 39. The flanges 71, 72 serve as an aligner means for the covers 38 and 39 on the base element 26. Shaft 70 is disposed above the ink level and carries an arcuately formed dipper finger 73 secured thereon by welding or other securing means intermediate the ends of the shaft. The dipper finger 73 is preferably formed of spring steel having a thickness of 0.010 of an inch and is provided with an elongated slot 74 having a width of approximately 0.062 of an inch. The width and the length of the slot 74 in the dipper finger 73 is such that,

by means of capillary attraction, the slot 74 will hold a measurable quantity of ink as the dipper finger passes through the ink in the reservoir upon counterclockwise rotation of shaft 70 (FIGS. 4 and 6).

The shaft 70 is rotated step by step in angular increments to move dipper finger 73 through the ink in a well or trough 75 formed in the base element 26. The radius of the arcuate portion of the dipper finger 73 is such that during the rotation of the shaft 70, the outer surface of the arcuate portion of the finger moves in a path approximating surface contact with the filrner roller 65, whereupon inkcarried by the dipper finger 73 is transferred to the surface of the roller 65.

In the embodiment shown, a single'dipper finger 73 is preferable, however, it will be understood that a purality of such fingers may be spaced alongthe shaft 70 to provide a greater quantity of ink, when the need for more ink is required. It will also be understood that one or more wires 101 (FIGS. 8-and 9) carried by a shaft 100 and formed to the'configuration of the flat spring dipper finger 73 may likewise be utilized to transfer ink from the reservoir to the filrner roller 65.

In order to impart a step-by-step rotation to dipper finger 73, an actuator, generally shown at 76 (FIGS. 5 and 6), comes into play and comprises a link 77 and a capstan spring clutch 78. As seen in FIG. 5, between the rightmost end of the filrner roller 65 and the pinion 67, shaft 66 is provided with a crank arm or eccentric portion 79 (FIGS. 4 and 6), which'is engaged by the circular portion of a bifurcation 80 formed in one end of the link 77. At its lower end, the link 77 carries a headed pin 81 projecting laterally therefrom to freely support a two-coil end of the spring clutch 78. The other, or three-coil, end of the spring clutch 78 is supported on the dipper finger shaft 70., As viewed in FIG. 6, it will be noted that the spring clutch 78 is coiled in a counter-clockwise direction about the shaft 70 with the inside diameter of the coils slightly less than the diameter of the shaft 70. Filmer roller 65 is driven for rotation in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 6, and link 77, actuated by crank arm 79 of the shaft 66, causes an oscillation of the spring clutch 78 with each revolution of the roller 65.

During one-half of the rotation of the shaft 65, the

spring 78 is rocked counter-clockwise and by means of the frictionalcontact of the coils of the spring with the surface of the shaft 70, an angular step of rotation is imparted to the shaft 70. During the other half of the rotation of the roller 65, spring 78 is rocked clockwise, as viewed in FIG. 6, easing the frictional contact of the spring 78 with the shaft 70, so that no motion is imparted to the shaft in the clockwise direction. In order to ensure the inability of shaft 70 to rotate in the clockwise direction (FIG. 6), a brake spring 82, similar to the spring 78, is disposed adjacent the left end of the shaft 70 (FIG. 5) with the three-coils of the one end of FIG. 6, the shaft is rotated a predetermined angular extent without any braking action of the spring 82. On the other hand, as the spring 78 is oscillated in a clockwise direction on shaft 70 (FIG. 6), the coils on the lower end of the spring 82, by frictional contact with the shaft 70,'prevent clockwise rotation of the shaft.

mately 18. As the arcuate portion of the dipper finger 73 carrying a supply of ink moves into active relationship with the filmer roller 65, a gap of between 0.002 and 0.015, preferably, exists between the two elements so that the removal of the ink from the dipper finger is by surface tension onto'filmer roller 65. However, if there is even a slight frictional contact between the dipper finger 73 and the roller 65, the finger will continue its rotation freely driven by the roller 65. The quantity of ink transferred from the reservoir to the filrner roller 65 may be predetermined by the number of dipper fingers 73 employed and the speed of rotation of the dipper finger shaft 70. The latter becomes a function of the extent of the eccentricity of the crank arm 79 and- /or the length of the extension of spring 78, that is, the distance between the center of one coiled end and the center of the other coiled end.

The supply of ink to the ink supply roller 28 may be selectively controlled to provide a relatively wet impression or a relatively dry impression, or may be adjusted at any point in between. For this purpose, a metering roller 87 (FIGS. 3, 4 and 7), preferably of nylon, is rotatably supported by a shaft 88 carried by a substantially U-shaped support frame, generally indicated at 89 in FIG. 7. One end of the shaft 88 is supported within a suitable aperture in an arm 90 of the carrier 89 while the other end of the shaft-88 is provided with a diametral slot in which the matched portion of the other arm 91 of the frame 89 is engaged. The arm 91 is disposed in a plane perpendicularto the end of the shaft 88. Intermediate its ends, the web portion 92 of the support frame 89 is provided with an angularly formed upstanding ear 93 having an aperture therein for securing the lower end of a coil spring 94, the upper end of which is supported in a suitable aperture in one end of a flexible tensioningstrap 95. Strap 95 is provided with an elongated clearance slot 96 and is secured at its other end by any suitable means such as a small screw 97 to a shaft 98 joumalled at its respective ends in. the walls of the covers 38 and 39. At the end of the shaft adjacent the inner surface of the wall of the cover 38, the shaft 98 has a portion of its diameter reduced to enable rotation of the input drive shaft gear 56. At its other end, shaft 98 is extended through a suitable aperturein the outside cover 39 for the securing of a knurled control knob 99 thereon.

Metering roller 87 has a larger diameter than the spacing between the peripheral surfaces of the ink supply roller 28 and the filmer roller 65. In order to enable the transfer of ink from the filrner roller 65 to the ink supply roller 28, the metering roller 87 is disposed in clockwise direction, transporting a quantity of ink to the surface of the filmer roller 65. This supply of ink from the dipper finger 73 is carried around the roller 65 to the contact mesh of the roller 65 with the metering roller 87. Along the nip or mesh of the rollers 65 and 87, the ink is spread, forming a film of ink on the surface of the metering roller 87. The ink which passes through the mesh of the rollers 65 and 87 is carried into the mesh of the metering roller 87 and ink supply roller 28, whereupon the ink is transferred to the ink supply roller 28 to be picked up by the indicium die plate 16 of the printer 14. Control of the amount. of ink passing from the filmer roller 65 to the ink supply roller 28 is effected by the extent of the pressure contact of the metering roller 87 with each of the two rollers. With substantially no tension on spring 94 and very light contact of the metering roller 87 with each of the rollers 65 and 28, a greater amount of ink is permitted to pass from the roller 65 to the ink supply roller 28, causing a wet postage mark impression to be made by the indicium plate 16. As the knob 99 is rotated clockwise in FIG. 1, tension is increased on spring 94 and the mesh of roller 87 with rollers 65 and 28 is tightened, so that less ink is permitted to pass between roller 65 and roller 87, for transfer to ink supply roller 28. Thus, a relatively dry postmark impression is effected. In any adjustment of the metering roller 87 relative to the filmer roller 65, the ink which may tend to accumulate at the point along the line of contact of the two rollers flows over the end of the rollers into the reservoir.

What is claimed is:

1. An inking device comprising containing a supply of ink,

an inking roller,

a filmer roller including a supporting shaft,

a driving means for imparting rotation to said inking roller and said filmer roller,

means for transferring a given amount of ink intermittently from said reservoir to said filmer roller,

an actuator means for controlling the intermittent operation of said transferring means in timed relation to the rotation of said filmer roller,

a metering roller adjustable for rolling contact with said inking foller and said filmer roller to control the transfer of ink from said filmer roller to said inking roller,

said transferring means including a shaft driven intermittently by said actuator means during each revolution of said filmer roller,

means mounted on said driven shaft for passage through said ink in said reservoir and in rolling contact with said filmer roller to transfer a given quantity of ink onto said filmer roller,

said actuator means includes a clutch means carried by said driven shaft and adapted for movement in an ink reservoir for either of two directions and operable upon movement in one direction to impart a predetermined angular rotation to said driven shaft, and

means driven by said filmer roller supporting for con- I trolling movement of said clutch during each revolution of said filmer roller.

2. In a device of the character described in claim 1 wherein said clutch means comprises a spring element coiled about said driven shaft for rocking movement in one direction by said driven means to impart an angular increment of rotation to said driven shaft and freely rockable on said'driven shaft in the other direction.

3. In a device of the character described in claim 4 wherein said driven means comprises a crank formed by an eccentric portion of said filmer roller supporting shaft, and

a link member connecting said crank and said spring element for controlling the rocking movement of said spring element in each direction during each revolution of said filmer roller.

4. In a device of the character described in claim 1 wherein said predetermined angular rotation of said driven shaft is of the order of about 18 degrees.

5. In a device of the character described in claim 1 wherein said dipper is an arcuately formed strap having a slot therein for supporting a predetermined quantity of ink for transfer to said filmer roller upon passage of said strap through the ink reservoir.

6. In a device of the character described in claim 1 wherein said transferring means comprises a shaft driven intermittently by said actuator means during each revolution of said filmer roller, and

a plurality of dippers spaced along'said driven shaft for passage through the ink in said reservoir and rolling contact with said filmer roller to transfer ink thereto.

7. In a device of the character described in claim 8 wherein each of said dippers is arcuate in form and has a round cross-section.

8. In a device of the character described in claim 1 further including a tensional means for adjustably supporting said metering roller to control the contact pressure of the metering roller with said inking roller and said filmer roller, and

a manually controllable means for selectively adjusting said tensional means.

9. In a device of the character described in claim 10 wherein said tensional means comprises a carrier supporting each end of said metering roller, and

a tension spring connecting said carrier and said manually controllable means for control of the tension of said spring upon adjustment of said manually controllable means.

all II 

1. An inking device comprising an ink reservoir for containing a supply of ink, an inking roller, a filmer roller including a supporting shaft, a driving means for imparting rotation to said inking roller and said filmer roller, means for transferring a given amount of ink intermittently from said reservoir to said filmer roller, an actuator means for controlling the intermittent operation of said transferring means in timed relation to the rotation of said filmer roller, a metering roller adjustable for rolling contact with said inking foller and said filmer roller to control the transfer of ink from said filmer roller to said inking roller, said transferring means including a shaft driven intermittently by said actuator means during each revolution of said filmer roller, means mounted on said driven shaft for passage through said ink in said reservoir and in rolling contact with said filmer roller to transfer a given quantity of ink onto said filmer roller, said actuator means includes a clutch means carried by said driven shaft and adapted for movement in either of two directions and operable upon movement in one direction to impart a predetermined angular rotation to said driven shaft, and means driven by said filmer roller supporting for controlling movement of said clutch during each revolution of said filmer roller.
 2. In a device of the character described in claim 1 wherein said clutch means comprises a spring element coiled about said driven shaft for rocking movement in one direction by said driven means to impart an angular increment of rotation to said driven shaft and freely rockable on said driven shaft in the other direction.
 3. In a device of the character described in claim 4 wherein said driven means comprises a crank formed by an eccentric portion of said filmer roller supporting shaft, and a link member connecting said crank and said spring element for controlling the rocking movement of said spring element in each direction during each revolution of said filmer roller.
 4. In a device of the character described in claim 1 wherein said predetermined angular rotation of said driven shaft is of the order of about 18 degrees.
 5. In a device of the character described in claim 1 wherein said dipper is an arcuately formed strap having a slot therein for supporting a predetermined quantity of ink for transfer to said filmer roller upon passage of said strap through the ink reservoir.
 6. In a device of the character described in claim 1 wherein said transferring means comprises a shaft driven intermittently by said actuator means during each revolution of said filmer roller, and a plurality of dippers spaced along said driven shaft for passage through the ink in said reservoir and rolling contact with said filmer roller to transfer ink thereto.
 7. In a device of the character described in claim 8 wherein each of said dippers is arcuate in form and has a round cross-section.
 8. In a device of the character described in claim 1 further including a tensional means for adjustably supporting said metering roller to control the contact pressure of the metering roller with said inking roller and said filmer roller, and a manually controllable means for selectively adjusting said tensional means.
 9. In a device of the character described in claim 10 wherein sAid tensional means comprises a carrier supporting each end of said metering roller, and a tension spring connecting said carrier and said manually controllable means for control of the tension of said spring upon adjustment of said manually controllable means. 